§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on the purchase of archives of historical/research importance will be funded. [20739]
§ Marjorie MowlamThe Department of the Environment has recently concluded that the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 does not empower the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland to purchase archives. Parliamentary approval for such purchases in the current financial year will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Environmental and Other Services Vote (Department of the Environment Vote 4) Pending that approval, expenditure up to an estimated £120,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Civil Contingencies Fund to ensure that Northern Ireland's archival heritage will be saved for posterity.
I am also examining the possibility of seeking Parliament's approval for new legislation which will specifically authorise such expenditure.